Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Robert Storm | Lance Cpl. Isaac Ramos, data system specialist, RCT-6, from Boston, Mass., focuses on...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Every day Marines use computers to send information, coordinate data for flights, order supplies and complete seemingly a million other tasks necessary to keep the Marine Corps functioning.
The Marines that set-up the networks and service the computers are the 0651 Data System Specialists.
“These data guys have a critical job. They keep us talking through multiple nets, NIPR (Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network), SIPR (Secret Internet Protocol Router) and other networks,” Sgt. Maj. Deets said, regimental sergeant major, RCT-6, from Annandale, Va. “They are a force multiplier and are vital to success on the modern day battlefield, where the flow of information is so important.”
While deployed, these Marines rotate shifts on a 24-hour schedule in order to keep communications running smoothly for the regiment. While their skills are invaluable, many times user error is the key to fixing the trouble.
“A lot of the time the problems are simple things,” laughs Lance Cpl. Corey Jarvis, data system specialist, Regimental Combat Team-6, from Bridgewater, Va. “We’ve had people call us for help and we show up and find that they don’t have the power cord plugged in or even that they simply haven’t pushed down on the power button hard enough.”
According to military.com, data network specialists are responsible for the installation, configuration, and management of data network systems including MS Exchange, Defense Message Systems, and other authorized systems. They also plan and execute the integration of multiple information systems in a network environment, evaluate and resolve customer information system problems, and ensure required hardware upgrades and repair to maintain mission capability.
The Marines must complete a 14-week school before reporting to their duty stations. The school is located at Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty Nine Palms, Calif. The school used to be 10 months, but with advancements in technology and the diversifying of the military occupational specialty the school found it couldn’t keep pace. The preparation time was cut in order to send the Marines out into the field for more on-the-job training.
“There is just so much that the Marines have to learn that it can’t be done at the schoolhouse,” Staff Sgt. Stephen Dunmire said, data chief, RCT-6, from Pittsburg, Pa. “The shop is split up into so many jobs. They could be working with servers, or databases, networking, programming, trans mediums or security. They have to hit the ground running and learn to improvise.”
Even though the Marines are continuously after joining their units, constant advancements in both hardware technology and software programming make it impossible for any one Marine to know everything.
“You’ll never learn everything about data – it changes daily,” Sgt. Jared Self said, system specialist, RCT-6, from Fort Worth, Texas. “Even if you stopped working and just studied day and night you’d never learn it all.”
With the hyper-speed of modern communications and the necessity of computers for completing the numerous duties needed to take care of Marines, most command staff agree that the data system Marines are an invaluable asset.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2012 01:04 |
| Story ID: | 82605 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AF |
| Web Views: | 980 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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